Extraordinary Rise: Starting Contract with the Silver Dragon Countess

Cohen had no time to pay attention to the astonishment, suspicion, and other reactions from the outside world; he was currently having a long phone conversation with Adele.

In the Starry Sky District of the Central Imperial State Guesthouse, Cohen's room was already bathed in a gentle magical light.

Leaning back on the comfortable sofa, he toyed with a shimmering communication crystal between his fingers.

At this moment, his attention was completely focused on the stunningly beautiful figure in front of him.

Adele had clearly just finished bathing, wrapped in a silk bathrobe as light as mist, and was lounging lazily in a rocking chair.

The robe's collar was slightly loose, revealing a small portion of her fair, snow-white skin and a deep, alluring curve.

The lingering mist and haze hadn't completely dissipated, as if coating her alabaster skin with a layer of holy, soft light.

Even her icy blue eyes lost some of their usual imposing and intimidating quality, gaining instead a hazy, watery quality and a touch of allure.

"...That's about it. The Gold Group competition will probably take another two weeks to finish."

Cohen's voice softened unconsciously, his gaze lingering on the snow-white skin below Adele's collarbone:
"The legendary group is full of top players, and the winners and losers are decided very quickly, and there are not many participants."

After the Noble Martial Arts Festival ends, I will go to the Dragon Plane, and then accompany Nephthys to Mosa Province.

Searching for the Black Rose Key lost by her family... well, including the time spent traveling back and forth and searching there, it will take at least three months to return..."

Upon hearing that it would take another three months, a subtle hint of displeasure flashed across Adele's brow.

Cohen's mind was mostly captivated by the breathtaking and defenseless beauty of his sister, the Queen, after her bath—

Adele's full, undulating, sexy curves were faintly visible beneath her thin silk nightgown, like the most alluring treasure, drawing all his attention.

He didn't notice the fleeting expression on his sister Queen's face.

Cohen paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and recounted to Adele the scene of his battle with Selene during the day:
"Some strange things happened today when I faced that Chaos sorcerer Selene Winterhold from the Northern Region..."

After suppressing her distracting thoughts and pondering for a moment, Adele reached the same conclusion as Cohen:

"The divine essence has been nurtured within me, and even those closest to me will be imbued with its aura."

Furthermore, this Chaos Warlock's power source is precisely Daphne's icy plane, meaning he is completely countered.

A strange smile appeared on Cohen's lips:

"To ensure my 'immunity to ice magic' remains at its peak, it seems we'll need to have more frequent and in-depth exchanges like this in the future!"

This blatant and strongly suggestive teasing instantly stirred up the heartstrings that Ada had just managed to suppress.

Deep within those icy blue eyes, a more profound icy sea seemed to be surging, or perhaps suppressed lava was churning.

Those eyes, which seemed capable of freezing the soul yet igniting passion, gazed deeply into Cohen's eyes.

A captivating smile slowly spread across her thin lips, and her tongue gently brushed against her lower lip.

Every gesture she made exuded an amazing charm unique to the number one beauty on the mainland.

Cohen's breath caught in his throat. He felt as if his heart had been pierced by an invisible ice pick and then instantly ignited. A tremendous tremor ran through his limbs and bones like an electric current.

Ada's silent actions were more captivating than any sweet words!

A surge of heat rushed up his head, and he even had a strong urge to tear through space, rush back to Effie, and pull the person in front of him into his arms.

Adele was pleased with Cohen's reaction, a hint of pleasure flashing in her eyes. Her red lips parted slightly, and the words she uttered were clear and melodious. Her gaze swept over Cohen, carrying a "you decide what to do" implication.

"Since you will be frequently traveling to and from the Central Empire in the future, have you considered establishing a spatial coordinate in Constantine?"

Cohen instantly understood the Queen's implication. In fact, he had been considering this matter for a long time, but had not yet found a suitable location.

Unlike other places, the Central Empire was not its own territory, let alone that of Constantine.

This is the most magnificent city on the continent, home to countless high-level extraordinary individuals.

Once the fluctuations of spatial teleportation are detected by a high-level transcendent being, the secret of possessing the Book of Time and Space will be lost.

After much thought, there is only one place that is most suitable.

Yes, no one would dare to spy on Shanies's palace!

Strange, why are my spatial coordinates all set in the woman's bedroom?
Coincidence, must be a coincidence!

However, this was definitely not something he could say directly to Adele. After thinking for a moment, he said:
"Once I find a suitable location, I will imprint the spatial coordinates, and then I can return to Florence at any time."

A faint smile graced Adele's exquisitely beautiful face, her icy blue eyes reflecting Cohen's image:

"Yes, that's good. Safety first."

The conversation quickly shifted to more private whispers, more intimate between husband and wife.

The candlelight flickered, the crystal shimmered, and whispered laughter filled the night, a tender atmosphere tinged with the romance between lovers.

Only when the stars outside the window were low in the sky and the night was deep did the two reluctantly cut off the communication spell.

When the last glimmer of light from the communication crystal completely faded, the room fell silent.

Cohen rubbed his temples and muttered to himself:
"We need to find some time to have a proper 'communication' with Xenia... well, purely for work convenience."

……

The competition in the Gold Division of the Noble Martial Arts Festival continues.

The enormous crystal light curtain, like a deity of destiny, once again radiated dazzling brilliance.

The air was thick with an even more intense and suffocating fighting spirit.

The light screen froze, clearly revealing the battle between the top eight:

The four matchups are as follows:
The Central Empire's top contender, the ninth-tier "Shadow Assassin," the "King of Devious Assassins," Gabriel Dera, faces off against Queen Effie, the Golden Wing's daughter, Isabella Wenze. This can be considered an internal war from the Pale Wings.

The ninth-tier "Dragon Vein Sorcerer" of the Eastern Empire, "First Prince" Xia Zuo Tang, battles the ninth-tier "Holy Warrior" of the Western Empire, "Holy Lancelot" Ash Lancelot.

There is also an Effie civil war, Windsordler versus Melantha.

With half of the players making it to the quarterfinals, there's a high probability of an all-Chinese draw, which is unavoidable.

Finally, Cohen himself faced off against the eldest prince of the Southern Empire, the ninth-tier "Beast Tamer," "Ocean Calamity" Greg Yarvis.

The central arena of the Imperial Arena, after a brief rest and reinforcement with runes, is now completely renewed.

The air was thick with lingering magical embers and an even more fervent anticipation. The quarterfinals were about to begin with a battle of light destined to be etched in history.

A massive crystal light screen illuminated the names of the two opponents in the first duel, making them appear like burning stars:

[Western Empire - "Holy Lancelot" Ash Lancelot] vs. [Eastern Empire - "First Prince" Xia Zuo Tang]

Unlike the Paladin Reinhardt, who was defeated by Cohen in the previous group stage, Ash Lancelot, the "Holy Lance," follows the "Ancient Sage's Oath" Paladin style.

The Oath of the Ancients existed for a period of time similar to the history of the Elven race and even the Druids.

Most of those who made this oath were fairy knights, green knights, and horned knights who served the gods in the ancient war between gods and demons.

To protect the beauty and life they love, and to uphold their own beliefs of honor, courage, and integrity.

They adorned their armor and clothing with vibrant patterns of leaves, antlers, flowers, and other lively designs to symbolize their commitment to protect life and light in the world.

It is the most standard example of the lawful and just camp.

Ash Lancelot slowly stepped onto the arena, wearing not heavy plate armor, but a set of chainmail that flowed with a soft holy light.

The chainmail is engraved with ancient druidic runes and natural symbols.

On the shoulder and breastplates, lifelike oak leaves, winding vines, and antler patterns symbolizing the cycle of life are outlined in fine gold—this is the most distinctive mark of the "Oath of the Ancients".

This is not just a simple decoration, but a manifestation in the material world of the protective pact forged with the spirits of nature and ancient heroes.

Ash's face was resolute and calm, and he did not hold any physical weapon in his hand.

But as he stood in the center of the arena, a pure, vast, and seemingly divine pressure spread out as if it were a tangible force.

Behind him, countless translucent knight phantoms, clad in green leaves and vine armor, appeared and disappeared indistinctly.

That was the resonance of the will of the ancient heroes, the "Green Knights" and "Horned Knights," who followed the gods in their battles and protected life and light.

As the contemporary Holy Son of the Holy See and captain of the Temple Guard, Ash Lancelot's very existence is the perfect embodiment of the "Oath of the Ancients" in the present world.

His power stems from his absolute devotion to the belief of "protecting the beauty of life" and "practicing honor, courage and integrity," and from the resonance of his contract with the ancient spirits of nature.

His image is bright and majestic, and he enjoys unparalleled prestige within the Vatican, serving as a role model for countless believers.

Almost at the same moment Ash stepped onto the stage, another completely different, yet equally magnificent and powerful pressure descended from the other end of the stage.

Xia Zuo Tang, the undisputed first prince of the continent, and the future leader of the Eastern Empire.

He was wearing a well-tailored, deep red robe inlaid with dark gold dragon scale patterns.

An ancient and majestic aura, originating from the depths of one's bloodline, spread out like a giant dragon awakening.

His eyes were no longer the usual color, but had become dazzling, vertical pupils like liquid gold.

Wherever his gaze swept, the space seemed to distort slightly, carrying the indifference and majesty of a dragon looking down on ants.

Xia Zuo works in the mainstream profession of the Eastern Empire's royal family: Dragon Vein Sorcerer, and he is the most noble and powerful Golden Dragon Bloodline among Dragon Vein Sorcerers.

The Eastern Empire's royal family's claim to be "descendants of the dragon" is no exaggeration.

The ancestors of the Eastern Empire forged a profound pact with some dragons in ancient times, which may have been for fighting together, redemption, or even forbidden love.

This resulted in the powerful dragon bloodline and some of the laws it contained being integrated into the souls of its descendants.

When the time is right, the awakening will occur in one of the descendants, thus enabling them to become a "Dragon Vein Sorcerer".

Xia Zuo is the most dazzling awakener of this ancient bloodline in the modern era.

In other words, there is a high probability that Asuna's future descendants will become "Dragon Vein Sorcerers".

Xia Zuo inherited the most powerful Golden Dragon bloodline, which endowed him with an extremely high affinity for positive energy light, the sun, flames, force field energy, and energy related to the concepts of "order" and "protection".

Ash and Ash can be said to share the same lineage, both being light-based spellcasters. Ancient Sage's Oath vs. Golden Dragon's Blood!

Ash carries the covenant of ancient heroes and the mission of the Holy See, protecting the beauty of life and the light of faith.
Xia Zuo carries the glory and responsibility of the imperial dragon vein, and protects the imperial order and the majesty of the royal family.

This is a clash between two completely different yet equally noble beliefs in safeguarding the community.

The audience was completely silent; everyone was awestruck by the grand opening.

The Druid elders looked solemn, sensing from Ash a long-lost, pure aura of "ancient sages".
The delegation from the Eastern Empire was equally excited; the dragon's might displayed by Prince Xiazuo was a symbol of the empire's enduring strength.

The referee's voice, like a booming bell, pierced through the frozen air:
"The first match of the quarterfinals: Ash Lancelot of the Western Regions Empire versus Xia Zuo Tang of the Eastern Regions Empire—begin!"

The moment the words fell!
Ash clasped his hands together in front of his chest and chanted an ancient and solemn incantation.

His body radiated holy light, and countless emerald vines and light-forged oak leaves danced around him. The prototype of a "holy spear," pure and condensed to its ultimate form, shining with dazzling platinum brilliance, rapidly condensed in his palm.

Xia Zuo then let out a deep and majestic dragon roar.

That's not human language, but the syllables of ancient dragon language!

He spread his arms wide, and without any incantation, the raging dragon breath gathered and swirled around him.

The intense heat distorted the air, and a gigantic, golden dragon claw phantom, made of pure energy, slowly took shape behind him, locking onto Ash with an overwhelming force capable of crushing everything.

Holy light and dragon roar!
Faith and bloodline!
This ultimate showdown between the pinnacle powers of the Light element erupted with a deafening roar, watched by countless eyes.

On the arena, a raging torrent of light and heat surged forth.

"Holy Lance - Judgment!"

Ash Lancelot showed no intention of holding back.

With a low roar, the radiant spear that he had been holding in his hands suddenly solidified, and the spear, with a whooshing sound that tore through the void, transformed into a platinum pillar of light that pierced through the heavens and the earth.

It pierced straight into Xia Zuo's heart, and wherever it passed, even the solid barrier rippled violently.

This spear of light, once saturated with the filthy blood of traitors and demons of the abyss, bears witness to countless wails of agony annihilated in the holy flames.

Faced with this fatal blow imbued with faith, Xia Zuo's vertical pupils suddenly contracted, unleashing a dragon-like pressure that seemed almost tangible.

"hold head high--!"

A dragon's roar, filled with ancient majesty, exploded from the depths of his chest. He did not dodge, but instead took a heavy step forward.

They waved their hands as if performing an ancient ritual.

"Golden Dragon Mantra - Unbreakable Barrier!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a dazzling golden light, like a liquid torrent, surged out from his body.

In an instant, the rising golden dragon power condensed and formed a huge golden scale shield in front of him, flowing with dark gold runes.

The texture of the scales resembles the scales of a living golden dragon, exuding an aura of indestructibility.

"Boom——!!!"

The torrent of holy spears crashed violently into the golden scale shield.

The deafening explosion nearly tore apart everyone's eardrums, and dazzling platinum and gold light exploded like a miniature sun.

A violent energy shockwave swept out in a ring, crashing into the protective barrier at the edge of the arena, emitting a blinding flash and a violent hum.

The entire training ground was trembling slightly!
As the smoke and light dissipated, fine cracks were visible on the golden scale shield, but its core remained stable.

Ash's holy spear failed to pierce through in one strike.

However, Xia Zuo's complexion was also not good, slightly pale. Maintaining this dragon language barrier, which was comparable to a legendary defense, was also a huge drain on him.

Ash hovered in mid-air, his hair dancing wildly in the turbulent currents, a hint of unexpected seriousness flashing in his eyes.

The fact that Xia Zuo could withstand his "Holy Lance Judgment" head-on without collapsing meant that Xia Zuo's golden dragon bloodline was even purer than he had anticipated.

However, the opponent's resources will inevitably be greatly depleted, which is the perfect time to pursue.

Ash conjured a blazing light spear in his hand once more, but just as he was about to throw the second shot...

At the center of the smoke and dust, where Xia Zuo stood, a silent yet terrifying pressure suddenly erupted.

A deep, majestic roar, seemingly emanating from the depths of the ancient earth, sent an invisible shockwave that disregarded distance and slammed into Ash's mind.

This is the "Soul Shock" originating from pure-blooded dragons!
Ash's pupils dilated violently, and his action of condensing the holy spear was instantly interrupted.

Xia Zuo stomped his foot hard, but the golden scale shield in front of him, which was covered with cracks but whose core still shone with golden light, did not dissipate.

Instead, like a whale sucking in water, it frantically compressed the violent energy that it had absorbed and retained when it blocked the Holy Lance—not only Ash's Holy Light Power, but also Xia Zuo's own Golden Dragon Origin Magic Power.

"Buzz!"

The cracked shield suddenly collapsed inward, transforming into an extremely unstable energy vortex core.

The next instant, just as Ash was stunned by the dragon's roar, Xia Zuo whispered an ancient dragon incantation.

boom!
The energy vortex, compressed to its limit, transformed into a golden sun of destruction, carrying with it shattered golden dragon scale phantoms and remnants of platinum light fragments, and slammed fiercely into the stunned Ash.

The shadow of death looms over us!

"Om-!"

Faced with this counterattack that could completely wipe him off the stage, Ash's eyes flashed with holy light, and he held nothing back.

"Guardian Spirit, Unyielding Heroic Souls!"

A sacred chant, like an ancient proverb, resounded, and Ash's entire body suddenly erupted with a vast light of life, like that surging forth from an eternal forest.

In an instant, a layer of condensed emerald-colored energy crystals covered his entire body.

On the armor, countless vines and oak leaf runes symbolizing the cycle of life were clearly visible, flowing in layers.

At the same time, several translucent phantoms of heroic knights, clad in armor of vines and green leaves, solidified and danced around Ash.

Ash firmly protected himself within this sanctuary, a shelter built by the vitality of nature and the spirits of ancient sages.

next second!
The golden sun of destruction, wrapped in broken dragon scales, absorbing remnants of holy light, and roaring with the will of vengeance, crashed violently into the shimmering emerald green protective barrier of the Heroic Knight.

Sizzle—!!
The dazzling golden-green light erupted like a tsunami.

Dragon scale fragments frantically slashed at the Knight's lightforged armor and vine shield, emitting a sickening groan of twisting metal and tearing vegetation.

The residual power of the absorbed Holy Lance clashed violently with the dawn light of the heroic spirits, ultimately annihilating them.

The vine-like patterns charred under high temperatures and were instantly reborn in the life energy.

Boom! ! !

An indescribable roar swept across the entire area, and the dissipating shockwave slammed heavily against the barrier wall, stirring up blinding energy turbulence.

Ash's figure was completely engulfed by this extreme energy storm.

The phantom of the heroic knight swayed violently in the storm, its light rapidly dimming.

Just when everyone thought Ash had failed, a deep voice rang out from within the energy storm:

"Nature's Wrath - Strangling Vine!"

As soon as he finished speaking, countless giant magical vines, as thick as pythons and wrapped in emerald lightning, burst forth from the energy storm!

They emitted sharp whistles, carrying an aura of judgment and strangulation, and surged wildly towards Xia Zuo from all directions like living creatures.

Xia Zuo's eyes flashed with golden light, and he suddenly clasped his hands together in front of his chest. The dragon vein patterns flowing all over his body suddenly lit up.

Ring of Molten Gold!

The crimson-gold dragon breath flames, carrying the intense heat to melt everything, erupted violently from his body outwards like a bursting dam.

A golden ring of fire quickly forms, rotating without any blind spots!

"Tsk-!"

The jade vines collided with the molten gold ring.

Thunder and fire clashed fiercely once again.

A large number of vines were instantly burned to ashes, and the air was filled with the smell of burnt wood and the essence of plants being evaporated.

But the strongest and most resilient core vines, despite the raging heat of the dragon flames, still broke through the barrier of the fire ring and lashed out with the power of thunder against the dragon scales that had appeared on Xia Zuo's body.

"Crack!"

A thunderous roar shook Xia Zuo's body, forcing him to take a step back.

The dragon scales shimmered violently, and a trickle of golden blood seeped from the corner of its mouth.

Ash pressed his advantage, and holy light began to gather around him, forming an even more terrifying flame.

At that moment, an unprecedentedly intense holy light erupted from his eyes.

His deep, ancient chanting seemed to transcend time and space:

"Blessed by the gods, witnessed by all things—I am the law of nature, the ancient warrior, descending!"

Boom!

A massive green beam of light descended from the sky, completely enveloping Ash.

Countless ancient runes surged beneath his skin, and his complexion began to turn a deep emerald green at a visible speed.

Even more astonishing was a pair of thick, forked, enormous antlers, like the branches of a thousand-year-old oak tree, shimmering with an emerald luster, growing proudly from his forehead.

At the same time, a halo of pure golden holy light, resembling the mane of a lion, suddenly bloomed around his head.

A majestic, primal aura, carrying an aura of supreme authority over nature, permeated the air! (End of Chapter)